Nutritional implications for chronic airflow limitation patients.

1. A number of studies have demonstrated that weight loss and poor nutrition are serious problems for persons who suffer with chronic lung disease. 2. Elders with chronic airflow limitation who are undernourished are at risk for a variety of complications, including atelectasis, pneumonia, respiratory muscle deficiencies, hypoxemia, and even respiratory failure. 3. Insufficient nutritional intake is often seen due to a variety of obstacles elders face in both obtaining adequate food sources and in their ability to ingest adequate calories. 4. A variety of simple nursing interventions can be implemented to decrease the burden of shopping, preparing, and eating meals, and therefore increase elders' desire and ability to eat adequately.